Valved siphon



Oct. 13, 1964 BRASE VALVED SIPHQN Filed Sept. 13, 1962 FIE-.4-

INVENTOR. GEORGE BKA 5E A r TO RNE vs United States Patent 3,152,341VALVED SIPHON George Brass, Los Angeles, Calif. (334 Cardinel Court,Mill Valley, Calif.) Filed Sept. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 223,418 3 Claims.(Cl. 4-206) This invention relates to a liquid level or drain controldevice or valved siphon for sinks or tanks and the like.

A primary object of my invention is to provide an improved portablevalved siphon for sinks and the like that will enable the sink to befilled with water to the desired level and then maintain that level eventhough additional fresh water is constantly or intermittently added tothe sink.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide aliquid level control device that will remove the water from the sink bydrawing it from below the surface to maintain the desired amount ofwater in the sink. This not only helps in removing debris particles asthe dirtier water in the sink is changed, but it also avoids thepremature removal of soap suds from the sink.

Another object of my invention is to provide a liqu d level controldevice for sinks that is easily adjustable to control the amount of flowthrough it so that it can be regulated relative to the input flow rateto give the desired results.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device which willsiphon water from the sink automatically when it reaches a certainpredetermined level and which removes the water from the sink at anunusually rapid rate. This feature of my invention enables my device toautomatically change a large percentage of water in the sink when acertain level is reached, and will thus automatically drain a portion ofthe water in the sink or container at periodic intervals or cyclesdependent on the rate of flow into the sink.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valved siphon for sinksor tanks that is easily adjustable to operate at two different liquidlevels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable valved siphondevice that will hold itself firmly in posi tion when placed over theconventional outlet.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a valved siphon devicehaving a visual indicator for setting its valve at any intermediateposition from full open to full closed.

A further understanding of the invention, together with more of itsobjects and advantages will appear from the following detaileddescription presented in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112. The use ofcertain specified materials and the utilization of some details ofconstruction which appear in this description are to be considered asillustrative examples only, rather than limitations upon the inventionor upon the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a valved siphon or drain control deviceaccording to the invention illustrating its normal position in usewithin a sink;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the valved siphon or draincontrol device of FIG. 1 with the device connected to maintain the waterin the sink at a lower level;

FIG. 3 is another enlarged exploded view in elevation and in sectionshowing the two major components of the valved siphon or drain controldevice of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 withviews in phantom added to illustrate the various valve positions of thedevice.

With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a liquid level controldevice or valved siphon 1i) embodylower conduit member 13.

3,152,341 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 ing the principles of the presentinvention as it appears when in operating position within a sink 11having a normal outlet drain opening 12 in the bottom thereof. Thedevice 19 is placed directly over the drain opening 12 and is adjustableto control both the liquid level in the sink 1]. and the rate ofdischarge of water from it. The following description of my draincontrol device will explain how these important functions as well asothers are accomplished.

As shown in the exploded detailed view of FIG. 3, my control device 10comprises basically two slidably connectable tubular conduit members 13and 14. The lower member 13 is fixedly mounted vertically in or around acircular central opening 15 of a base member 16. The base member 16 ispreferably formed of some semi-rigid material such as rubber or asuitable plastic and is slightly concave on its lower side 17 so that itcan readily cover and contact the standard drain opening of a sink. As ameans of further stabilizing my device when installed I may provide thebase member 16 with a magnetic means so that it will firmly engage thesink drain opening. The magnetic means may be in the form of an embeddedcircular ring 18 or a series of spaced apart single magnets. As anotheralternative, I may provide magnetic material that is ground up and mixedin with the composition of the base member itself. Such material haspreviously been used for refrigerator door gaskets and is commerciallyavailable.

The upper conduit member 14 of my control device 10 is generallyU-shaped and comprises connected parallel legs 19 and 20. Spaced upwardfrom the end of each leg are shoulders 21 and 22 which form enlarged endportions 23 and 24, respectively, each having an inside diameterslightly greater than the outside portion of the Thus, the upper member14 is adaptable to be slidably attached by either of its end portions 23or 2 to the lower conduit member 14 depending on the particular depth ofwater in the sink that is desired. The leg 19 of the upper member 14 hasa greater length than the other leg 20 so that either one can beconnected to the lower conduit portion 13 to provide for water levelcontrol at two ditferent levels.

An important feature of my control device is a controllable Valve means25 which one can regulate the flow of water through the device frommaximum flow to the fully closed position. This flow regulation isobtained by imperforate transverse valve members 26, 27 and 28 fixedwithin and extending partially across the conduit members 13 and 14.These transverse members are adapted to engage and overlap each otherwhen the members 13 and 14 are attached together. By rotating the uppermember 14 relative to the lower member 13, the size of the opening pastadjacent transverse members can be varied. As shown in FIG. 3, thetransverse member 26 in the lower member 13 has a generallysemi-circular shape and is located at its upper end. The transversemembers 27 and 28 in the upper member 14 of the device 10 also each havea similar generally semi-circular shape and are located in line with theshoulders 21 and 22, respectively, of the end portions 23 and 24. Thecombined imperforate area of the members 26 and 27 and combined area ofthe members 26 and 28 exceeds the cross-sectional area of the lowerconduit member 13. Thus, when either the end portion 23 or 24 isslidably attached to the lower member 13 the valve member 26 is directlyengaged either by a valve member 27 in the long leg 19 of the uppermember 14 or the valve member 28 in its short leg 20. When the uppermember 14 is rotated relative to the fixed lower member 13 the size ofthe opening through the valve 25 is varied according to how much thevalve members 26, 27 or 28 are overlapped.

As a means of indicating what position the valve member 26 is relativeto the valve member 27 or 28 at any given time, and thus how much flowis possible through the device, the upper side of the base member 16 isprovided with indicia spaced along its periphery. As shown in FIG. 4,these markings may indicate the various valve positions from fully openat numeral 29 to the fully closed position at numeral 30 and alsointermediate settings.

To facilitate the easy manipulation of the device when in use the uppermember 14 may be provided with an integral handle portion 31 thatextends outwardly so that it can be readily grasped to turn the uppermember 14 relative to the lower member 13. The upper and lower members14 and 13 can be made from any suitable rigid material such as metal orplastic. The latter is preferred because the unique configuration of thevarious members makes them readily adaptable to well known plasticmolding techniques.

In operation, the device 10 is generally placed over the singledrainopening 12 before the sink 11 is filled, the magnet 18 within the baseportion serving to hold it firmly in place over the drain opening. Theupper member 13 is then slidably attached to the lower member 14 witheither its longer leg 19 or its shorter leg 2%) slidably engagedtherewith, depending on the level of Water desired in the sink. At thesame time the upper member 14 can be rotated relative to the lowermember 13 to the particular valve opening desired. With the valve in thefully open position, there is sufiicient cross sectional area in theconduit adjacent the engaged valve members 26, 27 and 28 to handle aneven abnormally high input flow from the water faucets of the sink. Whenthe sink faucets are turned on and the water fills up in the sink withthe valve in the open position, the water will rise through the shortpipe leg 20 as shown in FIG. 1, and drain down through the long pipe leg19 and through the lower member 13 and out the sink drain. Thisoverflowing will continue to hold the sink level at the nominal heightof the device 10. Once the liquid level has attained this height theinput flow of water can be reduced to a desired rate, the overflowpassing out through the device 10. If it is desired to have the waterlevel in the sink go above the device 10 the handle 30 is merely turnedto rotate the upper member 14 until the valve member 27 or 28 overlapsmore of the valve member 26 of the lower member 13 thus reducing therate of flow to an amount that is less than that of the flow of waterinto the sink. If thevalve 25 is absolutely closed, the water willcontinue. to rise in the sink, but if only partially closed, the waterwill rise near the top of the device 10 and create a siphoning effect.When the siphon is established the ambient pressure will cause anincreased flow of water through'the valve 25 and the rate of dischargeof water will thus be increased. This siphoning effect is very'beneficial as opposed to a mere overflow type of draining because whenit occurs a suction is created at the open end of the upper member 14which serves to pick up solid particles within the water in the sinkthat lie well below the surface of the water. Also, since the inlet totheupper member lies considerably below the upper level of the water itis below the soap suds in the sink and thus does not drain them 06: butrather conserves them for continued use although the water is beingcirculated beneath it.

When it is desired to drain the sink, this can be done rapidly byadjusting the upper member 14 so that the shorter arm 20 is connected tothe lower member 13 and the longer arm 19 extends down near the bottomof the sink as shown in FIG. 2. With the valve moved to the openposition, a siphon will now be established, and it will work to drainthe sink very rapidly. The suction created during the siphon will tendtodraw in all the solid particles and debris that may have settled to thebottom of the sink.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention may suggest themselves Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A liquid level control device for use in sinks and the like having anoutlet drain opening, said device comprising:

a base member having a central opening and an overall area substantiallylarger than said drain opening and thereby adapted to rest on the bottomof a sink with said central opening in communication with said drainopening;

a first tubular conduit section fixed to and supported by said basemember and extending upright from said central opening;

a second U-shaped conduit section having long and short leg portions,both said leg portions being shorter than said first conduit section andhaving a diameter slightly larger than said first conduit section, oneof said leg portions being telescopically engaged with and rotatablerelative to said first conduit section;

a first valve means fixed within said first conduit section at its upperend and having an imperforate flat upper surface extending transverselyand covering slightly more than one half the cross sectional area ofsaid first conduit section;

and a second valve means in the leg portion of said second conduitsection engaged with said first conduit section, said second valve meanshaving an imperforate flat lower surface extending transversely andcovering slightly more than one half the crosssectional area of the saidengaged leg portion, said first and second valve means being engagedtogether with the valve means in contact to form a variable opening forcontrolling the flow of liquid through said device when the secondconduit section is rotated relative to the first conduit section.

2. A liquid level control device for use in sinks and the like having anoutlet drain opening, said device comprising:

a flexible base member having an imbedded magnetic stabilizing means forholding the device firmly in position on the bottom of a sink and acentral opening for communicating with the drain opening of the sink;

a first tubular conduit section fixed to and supported by said basemember and extending upright from said central opening;

a second U-shaped conduit section having leg portions of unequal length,each said leg portion having an enlarged end portion slightly larger indiameter than said first conduit section, one of said leg portions beingtelescopically engaged with said first conduit section;

a first transverse substantially semi-circular imperforate valve memberextending across the top of said first conduit section at its upper.end;

second and third transverse substantially semi-circular imperforatevalve members fixed within the enlarged end portion of each of said legportion of the second conduit section, the combined area of said firstand second transverse valve members and the combined area of said firstand third valve members being greater than the cross-sectional area ofsaid first conduit section at its upper end;

said first valve member being in flatwise engagement with the valvemember of the engaged leg portion when said conduit sections areconnected, the rate of flow of liquid through said device beingcontrollable by rotating said conduit sections relative to each other.

3. A liquid level control device for use in sinks and the like having anoutlet drain opening, said device comprismg:

a flexible base member with a central opening;

a first tubular conduit section fixed to and supported by said basemember and extending upright from said central opening;

a second U-shaped conduit section having tubular long and short legportions, said long leg portion being only sli htly shorter than saidfirst conduit section, each said leg portion having an annular shoulderspaced from its end forming an enlarged end portion with a diameterslightly greater than the upper end of said first conduit section, oneof said enlarged end portions being telescopically engaged With saidfirst conduit section;

a first imperforate transverse valve member extending partially acrosssaid first conduit section at its upper end;

second and third imperforate transverse valve members each fixed Withina said enlarged leg portion of said second conduit section and extendingpartially across said leg portion, the combined area of said first andsecond transverse valve members and the combined area of said first andthird valve members being greater than the cross-sectional area of saidfirst conduit section at its upper end;

said first valve member and the said valve member of the leg engagedwith said first conduit section being in constant horizontal flatwiserotational engagement;

whereby the relative annular position of said first and second conduitsection determines the amount of overlap of said valve members and therate of said fluid flow through the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS537,968 Dorticus Apr. 23, 1895 2,436,029 Wrisley Feb. 17, 1948 2,951,504McBroom Sept. 6, 1960 3,020,562 Reynolds Feb. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS181,757 Switzerland Jan. 15, 1936 826,125 Germany Dec. 27, 1951

1. A LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN SINKS AND THE LIKE HAVING ANOUTLET DRAIN OPENING, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING ACENTRAL OPENING AND AN OVERALL AREA SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN SAID DRAINOPENING AND THEREBY ADAPTED TO REST ON THE BOTTOM OF A SINK WITH SAIDCENTRAL OPENING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DRAIN OPENING; A FIRSTTUBULAR CONDUIT SECTION FIXED TO AND SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE MEMBER ANDEXTENDING UPRIGHT FROM SAID CENTRAL OPENING; A SECOND U-SHAPED CONDUITSECTION HAVING LONG AND SHORT LEG PORTIONS, BOTH SAID LEG PORTIONS BEINGSHORTER THAN SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION AND HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLYLARGER THAN SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION, ONE OF SAID LEG PORTIONS BEINGTELESCOPICALLY ENGAGED WITH AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST CONDUITSECTION; A FIRST VALVE MEANS FIXED WITHIN SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION ATITS UPPER END AND HAVING AN IMPERFORATE FLAT UPPER SURFACE EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY AND COVERING SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE HALF THE CROSSSECTIONAL AREA OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION; AND A SECOND VALVE MEANSIN THE LEG PORTION OF SAID SECOND CONDUIT SECTION ENGAGED WITH SAIDFIRST CONDUIT SECTION, SAID SECOND VALVE MEANS HAVING AN IMPERFORATEFLAT LOWER SURFACE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND COVERING SLIGHTLY MORETHAN ONE HALF THE CROSSSECTIONAL AREA OF THE SAID ENGAGED LEG PORTION,SAID FIRST AND SECOND VALVE MEANS BEING ENGAGED TOGETHER WITH THE VALVEMEANS IN CONTACT TO FORM A VARIABLE OPENING FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OFLIQUID THROUGH SAID DEVICE WHEN THE SECOND CONDUIT SECTION IS ROTATEDRELATIVE TO THE FIRST CONDUIT SECTION.